This report, for the period 1 June – 30 November 2013, is for the first two quarters of the 2013/2014 fiscal and policy year for CCRIF. It is designed to provide an update on progress during this six-month period towards achievement of CCRIF’s Strategic Objectives (see Figure 1) as defined in the CCRIF Strategic Plan 2012/2013 – 2014/2015. In providing this progress update, this report also illustrates how the Facility upholds its customer values.

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, Jan 13 2013 (IPS) - A new initiative is catching on in the Caribbean that aims to increase and sustain agricultural productivity by incorporating information about weather and climate into the farming process, all under the umbrella of climate-smart agriculture.

What is UNDAC?
The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) is part of the international emergency response system for sudden-onset emergencies.
UNDAC was created in 1993. It is designed to help the United Nations and governments of disaster-affected countries during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency. UNDAC also assists in the coordination of incoming international relief at national level and/or at the site of the emergency.

Programme purpose: National Societies
in the Caribbean region are implementing efficient, responsive and focused
programmes that contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable people.
These programmes are aligned with the International Federation's Global
Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission
to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power
of humanity".

The information contained within this
update is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member
States and National Influenza Centers through reports sent to Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO) or updates on their web pages.

Weekly Summary

- In North America, acute respiratory
disease activity continued to decrease and is lower than expected in some
areas

- In the Caribbean, all countries
reported unchanged and decreasing trends in acute respiratory disease,
except Barbados, which reported an increasing trend

The information contained within this
update is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member
States and National Influenza Centers through reports sent to Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO) or updates on their web pages.

Weekly Summary

- In North America, acute respiratory
disease activity continued to decrease and is lower than expected in some
areas

- In the Caribbean, unchanged and decreasing
trends in acute respiratory disease were reported

The information contained within this
update is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member
States and National Influenza Centers through reports sent to Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO) or updates on their web pages.

Weekly Summary

- Respiratory illness activity remained
above what is expected for this time of year in Canada, Mexico, and the
United States; in the United States, the proportion of deaths attributed
to pneumonia and influenza remained above the epidemic threshold

The information contained within this update
is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member States
and National Influenza Centers through reports sent to Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) or updates on their web pages.

I- Evolution of the pandemic

North America

In Canada, the national influenza-like
illness (ILI) consultation rate slightly decreased compared to last week
but remained above average for the sixth consecutive week. The number of
influenza outbreaks remained high and these outbreaks were mostly reported
in the school setting.

The Canada Caribbean Disaster Risk Management
(CCDRM) Fund announces the third call for project proposals. Grants will
be made on a competitive basis to support small-scale projects at the community
level that deliver measurable results in natural disaster risk reduction
and/or in the reduction of the negative impacts of climate change. Projects
may range in duration from a few months to two years in maximum duration.

Priority will be given to projects in
the $25,000 to $75,000 CDN range.

The information contained within this update
is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member States
and National Influenza Centers through reports sent to Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) or updates on their web pages.

I- Evolution of the pandemic

North America

Widespread influenza activity and increased
trends in acute respiratory disease continued this week.

In Canada, the national influenza-like
illness (ILI) consultation rate increased again relative to the last week
and remained above average for the fifth consecutive week.

The information contained within this update
is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member States
and National Influenza Centers through reports sent to Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) or updates on their web pages.

I- Evolution of the pandemic

North America

Widespread influenza activity and increased
trends in acute respiratory disease continued this week.

In Canada, the national influenza-like
illness (ILI) consultation rate increased again relative to the last week
and remained above average for the fourth consecutive week.

The information contained within this update
is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member States
and National Influenza Centers through reports sent to Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) or updates on their web pages.

I- Evolution of the pandemic

North America

In Canada and the United States, spread
of influenza continues to be widespread and trends of acute respiratory
disease continue to increase.

In the United States, in EW 41, outpatient
influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity continued to increase, remaining
above the national baseline for the eighth …

The information contained within this
update is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member
States and National Influenza Centers through reports sent to Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO) or updates on their web pages.

I- Evolution of the pandemic

North America

In Canada, Mexico, and the United States,
trends in acute respiratory disease continued to increase and the intensity
of such diseases remained high this week.

The information contained within this
update is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member
States and National Influenza Centers through reports sent to Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO) or updates on their web pages.

I- Evolution of the pandemic

North America

Regarding WHO qualitative indicators
(See Annex 1) for monitoring of the pandemic, the three countries in North
America report widespread geographic spread. There was an increasing trend
of respiratory disease in Canada and Mexico, while decreasing in the Unites
States.